Teens who are obese may find that they are physically unfit, have a low self esteem, and general unhealthy wellbeing.

Many obese people will also tend to have a shorter life expectancy than those who are the right weight for their body size.

Plus, it can also lead to social disabilities and unhappiness, which in turn may cause them stress and in some cases, may make them mentally ill.

A study in May 2004 suggested that overweight children are more likely to be involved in bullying than those children who are a normal weight.

But they can not only be the victims of bullying, they may be the perpetrators as well.

The development of their own personal identity and body image is an important goal for any teenager.

There are a number of causes for obesity which center around an imbalance in the teens energy they put into their bodies, (calories that they obtain from the food they eat) and the energy they release from their bodies (how good their metabolism is, and how much physical activity they take part in).

Often when a teen is overweight, there is a problem with the nutritional value of their diet. It could also be a result of psychological, familial or physiological issues.

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